The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) – Volume III — Page 58
Seal of the Prophets - Volume III 58 the people would be forcefully snatched from them and secondly, the power and right to produce wealth in the future would also be snatched from them and both of these things are unjust. No doubt, for the rights of the nation, reasonable restrictions can be placed on the rights of individuals, and no doubt, individuals can be demanded to offer necessary sacrifices for the well- being of the nation. However, to completely expunge the rights of individuals and fully usurp them in the name of the nation is injustice, which Islām does not permit. In addition to this, if one contemplates by treading this path, not only is individuality completely effaced, rather, eventually nationalism is also brought to an end. This is because the ‘nation’ is but a name for a collection of individuals and if individuals are deprived of the right to earn wealth and reap its fruits, its definite outcome shall be that the most powerful natural incentive for the production of wealth shall be lost. It is obvious that if this incentive is lost, they shall ultimately lose the strength to produce wealth as well, and slowly but surely their mental faculties shall deteriorate. No doubt, at the present time this danger seems to be conjectural, but every individual who possesses the ability to truly rationalise can understand that after a period in time, such national dangers become a reality. Furthermore, in addition to this, the complete equal division of wealth is not even found in communist countries. For example, do Marshall Stalin and Mr. Molotov and other Russian lords eat the same food which a Russian labourer or farmer eats? Do they wear the same clothing which a Russian labourer or farmer wears? Do they reside in the same homes which a Russian labourer or farmer resides in? Do they travel in the same circumstances as does a Russian labourer or farmer? If not, and definitely such is the case, then where is the equality? The only difference is that one has looted the country’s wealth in the name of capitalism, while the other has erected the veil of communism, and in the guise of a servant to the community, has secured special luxuries for himself. The natural and instinctive method, is the one established by Islām. In other words, individual rights and individual struggle and effort should continue, while the phenomenon for uplifting the poor and fulfilling the needs of the poor from a portion of the wealth of the affluent should also prevail. Along with this, it should be ensured that the wealth of the country and nation is protected from being inequitably accumulated into the hands of a few. In actuality, the entire delusion lies in the fact that the categories of human rights have not been analysed. Human rights are of two kinds. Firstly,